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Forwards:

*Geoff Abbott: A player who Canadians have long had high hopes for, Abbot has turned into the well rounded small forward it was always imagined he could become. Last season he accomplished the incredible feat of taking Canada's starting SF spot from Paul Wendon. Abbot will start most games for Canada and his ability to do a little bit of everything and a whole lot of defending make him a potent weapon.

Paul Wendon: Long considered to be one of the top SFs in the world, Wendon's star has lost some of its luster in recent seasons as other players have caught up with him, but he's still a key part of Canada's national team. One of the first high level SFs to be actually well rounded (as opposed to a SG with some ID or a PF with high JS), Wendon is the prototype on which most world class SFs are based. He will wear the captain's armband (patch? hat?) for team Canada and his experience will be key for such a young NT. He may get some starts at SF when game shape and situations call for it and I firmly believe that he and Abbott give us one of, if not the, best 1-2 punches at SF in the world.

Teo "TSA" Saint-Arnaud: TSA went from U21 starter in season 10 directly to full NT starter in season 11 and has only improved since then. An absolute beast inside and outside he combines freakish athleticism with incredible fundamentals and goofy facial hair. He recently left Canada for a big pay day in China and his new manager has not let him slack off and is continuing to work on his already formidable skills. There are a few young guns that fancy themselves challengers for TSA's throne, but it looks like he'll hold onto that spot for the immediate future.

Scottie Smith: If TSA is the long, athletic and technically refined modern power forward then Scottie Smith is the throwback to a bygone era of lumbering, rough around the edges, big dudes who wear elbow pads and look like they should be bouncing at a road house, not playing professional basketball. Smith is a gritty veteran who likes to do the dirty work and is capable of playing centre or powerforward and is a great compliment to the more skilled Canadian players on the roster.

Centre:

*Christopher Moran: After leading the u21 team to its first ever championship Moran found himself in limbo. His long time manager, Aston Midhurst, disappeared and Moran was put on the auction block. Moran landed in Ireland where he's already been implicated in the running of a illegal leprechaun fighting operation. At 22 years old Moran is already the best centre Canada has ever produced and with some luck he will continue to improve. He gives the NT the kind of dominant inside presence that other NTs have enjoyed for years and really helps even the playing field.
Please Note: Moran is currently on sale again, but his asking price is almost triple what he sold for last week.


Ryerson Blekinsop: A long time NT player, Ryerson will backup Moran this season, and depending on game shape may get some starts. A solid NT player who gives Canada a little bit of everything, he and Smith give us a really solid second unit.


* Denotes starter



Last edited by chris902 at 7/12/2010 1:43:34 PM

I was surprised with just how long it took to write, but it is fun to assign arbitrary personality characteristics to players and I think it helps to give people a bit of an understanding of the flavour of the team.

For anyone who is interested: I posted some thoughts on the upcoming game against Ecuador on the off-site forum. Go check it out.

I just called up Gary Milot to play back up PG.

Gary Milot: After starting the season off of the active roster Gary Milot is making his return to the team and is expected to contribute immediately. Milot was somewhat of a prodigy in his youth, debuting for the u21 at just 19 years of age and then stealing the starting PG spot from national team legend Jean-Francois Joly as soon as he turned 22. Unfortunately for Milot, he's never had the kinds of physical gifts that made scouts' jaws drop and it was always speculated his lack of athleticism would limit his development. After years of getting by on cunning and court-smarts it appears as if Milot is as good as he's ever going to be. He will play back up PG and may get some minutes SG if need be going forward.

Boooooo...

We want Picard...we want Picard...we want Picard...

;-)

That's him...look how bored he is of shutting everyone down on D...he needs the challenge of NT games!

Picard has spent a bit too much time eating poutine this week and isn't mentally or physically ready to compete at the highest level.

Sorry about that, he got hurt in the league game and didn't play enough last week.

Sorry about that, he got hurt in the league game and didn't play enough last week.

No worries. Those things happen and it's better that it happen now than later in the schedule. He seems to be heading back in the right direction.

I posted some thoughts on this coming Monday's game against Bolivia on the offsite forum. If people want to head over there and give me some thoughts I would appreciate it.

I booked a scrimmage against Panama for this coming Monday since we have the week off from competition.

Last week I also added a player:
Daniel Spencer has been added to the team to shore up a front line that has been decimated by injuries and poor game shape. Spencer came into the season as the projected backup powerforward after playing 7 games with the NT in the past, but the meteoric rise of Christopher Moran pushed him off the team. The versatility of Haines looked like it pushed Spencer out of the NT picture but when Haines went down injured and Moran (allegedly) developed an addiction cheese-steak the NT was desperate to find a new big man. Spencer has stayed in phenomenal shape all season and his manager was actively looking for ways to get him back into the NT fold so when opportunity knocked Spencer was ready to suit up once again for the national team.